MARKET GARDENS BILL

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23891, 9 March 1943, Page 5

MARKET GARDENS BILL

REGISTRATION FEES

MOVE TO MINIMISE FLUCTUATIONS • (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) : WELLINGTON, March 8. The Commercial Gardens Registration Bill, requiring the registration 01 commercial gardens of more than hall an acre and glasshouses of more than, about one seventeenth of ah acre (2500 square feet), was read for the first time in the House of Representatives to-day, and an indication was given by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) that it was intended to put the bill through at the conclusion of the Address-in-Reply debate, later this The Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. J. G. Barclay) in an explanation requested by the Leader of the Opposition '(Mr S. G. Holland) said that the bill had been sought by the Markej; Gardeners' Association for the last seven or eight years, and he'did not think any of the five clauses would be opposed. EferV market garden larger than hall . ( an l %cre had to be registered, but gardens of a smaller acreage were not required to be registered and produce could continue to be sold from them. Glasshouses covering about one seventeenth of an acre also had to be registered. Information was required so that a check could be kept on how much produce was being grown, and so that gluts and scarcities could be eliminated as far as possible. The Government would find it very convenient in its negotiations with * commercial gardeners. The bill would not apply to potatoes, turnips, and similar field crops grown only for feeding stock. The fees to be charged would be 5s for half an acre to one acre; 10s for one to three acres, £1 for three to seven acres, £1 10s for seven to 15 acres, and £2 for more than 15 acres. These charges had been approved by the Market Gardeners' Association and the fees would be collected by the Post Office. After the deduction of collection expenses, the money would be handed to the Dominion Council of Commercial Gardeners, Ltd. This could be applied to the furtherance of production. Steps were being taken at present, Mr Barclay said, to try to speed up the production of vegetables and it was hoped to give commercial gardeners every opportunity in this direction. ' Replying to further questions, Mr Barclay said the bill would not apply to crops grown for seed purposes, and farmers growing peas would only come under the bill if growing for th« markets.